The optional question for this month is: What pitfalls would you warn other writers to avoid on their publication journey?

There are so many to choose from! I think I would warn my fellow writers to thoroughly research before querying agents or approaching publishers. There are so many wonderful agents and publishers large and small out there, but there are also sharks lurking in those publishing waters. Bad actors will do all they can to present themselves as polished and professional, but in reality, their main goal is to take advantage of you for their own benefit.

Fortunately, the IWSG website has a page filled with writer resources, and many of them are dedicated to telling you which agents and publishers are legitimate and which are not. You can also connect with your fellow writers who are further along in their publishing journey and benefit from the wisdom they've gained. We writers need to stick together, after all!